Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Teachings of the Myriad Arts
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“So, in other words…”
The old man who had appeared crossed his arms.
“One of the skills you possess needs to be upgraded, and you’re agonizing over which to choose?”
‘That’s right, sir.’
I laid out all my skills for the old man, one by one.
I also shared my concerns without holding anything back.
‘Hmm. Sir, how about upgrading Resurrection of the Dead or Roar of the Dead to SS-Grade? The others are all S-Grade, but these are A-Grade, so it’d be skipping two levels at once. That’s a huge win, right?’
Suggestions like that.
“…”
But throughout my explanation, the old man’s expression was far from normal.
What’s going on?
Did I say something wrong?
‘Oh, maybe it’s Myriad Arts that needs upgrading? It’s A-Grade too? SS-Grade Myriad Arts… Yeah, I’m curious what that’d feel like.’
But still.
He looked extremely displeased.
‘Sir?’
“…”
‘Hey, sir…?’
He seemed sulky, lips pressed tight, so just as I was about to ask again.
“You brat!”
The old man bellowed.
‘Whoa, you scared me. What’s with the sudden yelling?’
I clutched my temple.
He’d shouted so loud it gave me a headache.
“You insolent pup! Calling that a dilemma. Sigh, it must be my fault for raising a disciple and teaching only techniques.”
‘Uh…?’
“Your personality’s gone rotten! Get it? No manners at all!”
‘…?’
As I blinked at him in confusion.
The old man thumped his chest in frustration.
“Sigh, you fool! Is that what you agonize over? Obviously, you should’ve chosen ‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts’ without even asking!”
‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts…?’
“That’s right! You ungrateful wretch! After all I’ve taught you, how dare you look at other skills!”
So…
He was sulking because I didn’t choose to upgrade the skill that summons him?
Even his lips were pouting?
“Behold! Pain Resistance, Pure Heart Technique, Immunity to All Poisons, Myriad Arts! All derived from me. Isn’t it obvious which skill is supreme? You’re a genius in body alone—your head’s still miles away. Ah, so foolish. So foolish! My disciple is a fool!”
‘No, sir. That’s too harsh…’
“Quiet! Hmph!”
Huh?
Now he was turning his head away with a flick.
They say the older you get, the more childish…
No, this is sulky lover level, isn’t it?
‘Damn.’
“What? Damn? You swearing at me? You dare say ‘daaaamn’ to your sky-high master?”
‘Ah, fine! I get it.’
I raised both hands and stuck out my tongue.
‘I was actually going to pick Teachings of the Myriad Arts!’
“Hmph, as if. Now lying to your master too?”
As expected.
Not letting it go easily.
‘No, think about it, sir.’
But I wasn’t one to back down.
‘That’s why I summoned you instead of choosing alone. If I was gonna pick on my own, why call you?’
“…”
‘Plus, you know how much I rely on you. Even this time, I instinctively called you in tough moments. And it actually helped.’
One more thing.
‘No matter how I think about it, the greatest skill in my life is Teachings of the Myriad Arts.’
It might sound like I was just saying whatever came to mind.
But it was my honest truth.
Without the old man, I wouldn’t be a ranker.
Hell, I wouldn’t even be standing here now.
Did that get through?
The old man turned his head back toward me.
“You mean it, brat?”
‘Yes! I do.’
I let out a sigh of relief.
Finally smoothed over.
The sulk.
‘Sir! Let’s do it! Teachings of the Myriad Arts! Upgrading it right now?’
Truth be told.
Deep down, the one I wanted most was ‘Skeleton Lord Summon’ (S-Grade).
Upgrading it to SS-Grade would skyrocket my max firepower, Sun Spear and Eldrin.
Plus, my subordinates’ unique abilities would obviously upgrade from ‘Skeleton Lord’ to the next level.
‘Hmm.’
Above Lord is King, right?
If my subordinates became ‘Skeleton Kings,’ my own title would change too, wouldn’t it?
I’d be the one ruling Kings—maybe ‘Skeleton Emperor’?
‘Actually.’
I’d thought this before.
My current title [Skeleton King] feels lower-tier than [Skeleton Lord].
That’s why I craved it more.
‘But.’
I decided on ‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts’ (S-Grade).
It was a real dilemma anyway.
And the sir I owed so much was begging for it.
‘Of course I’ll do it.’
Can’t just take and not give back.
Who knows?
It might turn out to be a godsend.
I selected [‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts’ (S-Grade)] from the floating [Owned Skills] window in midair.
[Selecting ‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts’ (S-Grade).]
[‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts’ (S-Grade) is upgraded to ‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts’ (SS-Grade)!]
“Nice.”
SS-Grade Teachings of the Myriad Arts.
The moment I got my first SS-Grade skill in life.
[Skill: Teachings of the Myriad Arts]
[Grade: SS]
[Effect 1: Consume 20 stamina to summon the absolute ruler who conquered another world, ‘Master of Myriad Arts,’ for 12 hours.]
[Effect 2: The summoned ‘Master of Myriad Arts’ cannot exert physical force in this world. You can only receive his knowledge during the limited time.]
[Effect 3: This skill’s cooldown is 24 hours.]
[Effect 4: Only the skill user can perceive the ‘Master of Myriad Arts.’]
The change was simple.
From summoning him for 1 hour a day to 12 hours.
“…”
The old man’s lips twitched.
He didn’t say it out loud, but his feelings reached me fully.
‘Phew, that happy, huh…?’
He was definitely thrilled.
Genuinely excited that his time to sightsee this world had increased twelvefold.
“Hmph.”
The old man twitched his cheek and snorted.
“It’s all for you. A guy dreaming of reaching the world’s strongest through Myriad Arts can’t learn just 1 hour a day, can he? Needs to be around 12 hours, like now. And thinking of upgrading other skills to get stronger? Tch! That’s flawed from the root.”
‘…’
“It might seem good short-term, but think long-term. True strength comes from your own efforts. Don’t rely on skills—build real power through training and experience. Got it?”
‘Right, right. You’re absolutely correct, sir.’
I agreed.
I’d been busy lately, sure.
But juggling this and that, I’d neglected Myriad Arts.
Now with more time, I could learn a wider range of techniques.
Just as we were bantering back and forth.
“Hey, Hoon?”
Olena led the group over.
“Have you sorted your thoughts? Time’s really running out now.”
“Ah.”
I nodded.
A cat-eared girl walked up beside her.
“How’s your condition? Feeling okay?”
“Hmm.”
I rotated my joints around.
Then scanned my whole body from crown to toe with my senses.
No pain, muscles fine.
Felt refreshed, like after a deep sleep.
‘Definitely a genius doctor.’
No matter how I thought about it, Miao Hana was an all-time great physician.
“Thanks to you, I’m in top shape. Your medical skills seem even better now.”
“Of course.”
Miao Hana smirked.
“I upgraded my S-Grade Healing skill to SS-Grade Healing. Now it does perfect recovery plus condition adjustment.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
If true, she might rewrite healer history.
Already rare healers becoming rankers?
‘Huge.’
Her value would be immense.
Just knowing her would have people giving thumbs up.
“Hey, team leader. Sorry, but no time for chit-chat.”
“Oh, right?”
Vladimir’s words had me glancing around for a system window.
“Nothing like that. Luca stopped by while you were out, said Theme 4 starts in 30 minutes…”
“Huh.”
Right after waking up?
When do I even rest?
Though my body felt like I’d rested a week, so no complaints.
“About 1 minute left? Or maybe it’s already started.”
Team members had weapons drawn already.
Miao Hana and Olena, Kapu in the center.
Referee Spear, Maxy, Vladimir on the perimeter.
Standard combat formation.
“What’s Theme 4?”
“No idea.”
Vladimir shrugged.
“You know the examiners. Super unhelpful at the start, no explanations.”
“True.”
I got serious too.
Loosened up, checked my gear.
Thwack!
First setup: staff, of course.
Ready to summon bones instantly.
“Perfect.”
The old man grinned beside me.
“Training right after waking. Ideal for becoming a powerhouse!”
‘Please help a lot this theme, sir.’
“You got it.”
Heh.
His smile deepened.
“Let’s drill the new footwork and backlog of martial techniques. Full focus for 12 hours.”
Yes, of course.
If the trial allows Myriad Arts, that is.
Swoosh!
‘Hm?’
That’s when it happened.
My senses picked up movement.
‘What?’
Team members showed no reaction.
All directions eerily quiet.
‘They can’t feel it?’
Swoosh, swish!
Again.
Someone’s definitely here.
“Everyone, focus!”
I shouted.
“Huh?”
“Hoon? Why?”
“Hm?”
Then Vladimir and Referee Spear frowned.
They felt it too.
“Something’s there.”
“Yeah. Fuck, can’t see it well—assassin type?”
One by one.
Team focusing.
“Heh heh heh.”
The old man chuckled.
‘What is it, sir? See something?’
“Looks like the last theme was practice for these guys.”
‘These guys?’
“See? You spotted it first, then the spear guy and space mage. Exactly last theme’s clear order.”
‘Yeah… it is.’
- Grrr!
Suddenly, a dog-like howl beside us, and something lunged.
“Hup!”
Instinctively, I switched staff to sword.
Clang!
Deflected whatever’s claw swipe.
“Guh!”
Dull impact rocked my body.
Wrists throbbed.
“Hya! What the! Out of nowhere!”
“Dog?”
Others swung instinctively, blocking.
- Grrr, yap! Yap yap!
Far off.
Black smoke, shadowy dogs faintly visible.
Fierce shepherd look, drooling, hyper realistic.
Fangs, mad blood-red eyes.
Even rugged protrusions.
Finally.
[Ding!]
[Mission arrives.]
[Stage: Handle Shadow Shepherds.]
[From now, ‘Dragon Slayer’ team must cooperate to handle Shadow Shepherds.]
[Team contribution calculated by number handled.]
[Contribution varies by shepherd type.]
[Team members eliminated if taking near-death damage.]
[Theme continues until all team members eliminated.]
[Rewards based on contribution.]
Theme 4 had truly begun.